Patent Application
20230354949
A common problem experienced by individuals living in a home or working in a building is that the individual has footwear, such as socks, on their feet, but the individual is hesitant to go outside the building wearing only the footwear. The individual may be hesitant to go outside wearing only the footwear because the ground outside the building may stain or damages the footwear. Further, the footwear itself may not provide sufficient protection to the individual's feet against sharp objects or uneven ground present outside the building.
However, the individual may still desire to go outside the building without having to put on shoes over the footwear. A need therefore exists for something to protect the footwear and the individual's foot when the individual leaves a building without putting on shoes. Disclosed herein is an attachment for footwear that protects the footwear, and the foot of an individual, when the individual is outside of a building.
The present invention relates to an attachment to footwear used to protect the footwear when an individual is walking outside of a building. When an individual prepares to go outside of a building, an individual places a first foot into a first attachment. The first attachment fastens or adheres to a first footwear worn on the first foot of the individual. Optionally, the individual then places a second foot into a second attachment. The second attachment fastens or adheres to a second footwear worn on the second foot. The first attachment provides protection to the first footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building, and the second attachment provides protection to the second footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, and that for purposes of illustration, these figures are not necessarily drawn to scale:
Consistent with embodiments of the invention, an attachment to footwear is used to protect the footwear when an individual is outside of a building. When an individual prepares to go outside of a building, an individual places a first foot into a first attachment. The first attachment fastens or adheres to a first footwear worn on the first foot of the individual. The individual then optionally places a second foot into a second attachment. The second attachment fastens or adheres to a second footwear worn on the second foot. The first attachment provides protection to the first footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building, and the second attachment provides protection to the second footwear when the individual is walking outside of the building.
As used herein, the term “footwear” is intended to mean socks, slippers, pantyhose, leggings that surround a foot, tights that surround a foot, or any other covering that surrounds a foot other than a shoe.
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It will be appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may comprise any material that provides sufficient protection to the footwear worn by the individual. It will be further appreciated that the sole may comprise more than one material. Examples of materials that can be used to make the sole include rubber, plastic, molded plastic, leather, synthetic fibers, XL EXTRALIGHT®, Croslite™, metal or equivalents thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the sole comprises of a very light weight material.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may be comprised of a waterproof material.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear may be comprised of a material that resists penetration by sharp objects.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may comprise a bottom surface that it smooth or not smooth. The bottom surface may comprise tread, lines or ridges. It will be further appreciated that the bottom surface of the sole may be designed to provide slip resistance or skid resistance when the individual is walking.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may be either rigid or flexible when an individual is walking.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may have a uniform thickness from the front of the sole to the back of the sole. Alternatively, the sole of the footwear attachment may not have a uniform thickness from the front of the sole to the back of the sole. For example, a top surface of the sole of the footwear attachment may comprise an area that extends substantially upward from the top surface to provide arch support for the foot of the individual.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may have a uniform thickness from the left side of the sole to the right side of the sole. Alternatively, the sole of the footwear attachment may not have a uniform thickness from the left side of the sole to the right side of the sole.
It will be further appreciated that the sole of the footwear attachment may surround the foot of the individual. Alternatively, the sole of the footwear attachment may not surround the foot of the individual.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may comprise any material that provides sufficient durability for the lip. It will be further appreciated that the lip may comprise more than one material. Examples of materials that may be used to make the lip include rubber, plastic, molded plastic, leather, synthetic fibers, metal or equivalents thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the lip comprises rubber.
It will be further appreciated that the height of the lip of the footwear attachment may be substantially uniform. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the height of the lip of the footwear attachment may vary at different points along the lip. It will be further appreciated that the height of the lip of the footwear attachment may be sufficient to protect the footwear if the individual steps into water, mud, clay or the equivalent.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may comprise a strap or loop that may extend over the foot of the individual to assist in keeping the footwear attachment in place when being worn by an individual.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may comprise a rim or ridge on an inner surface of the lip to assist with keeping the footwear attachment in place when being worn by an individual.
It will be further appreciated that the lip of the footwear attachment may surround the foot of the individual. Alternatively, the lip of the footwear attachment may not surround the foot of the individual.
It will be appreciated that the surface 103 of the footwear attachment may comprise any material that allows the surface 103 to sufficiently fasten or adhere to the footwear worn by the individual. In a preferred embodiment, the surface 103 comprises Velcro®.
It will be further appreciated that the surface 103 of the footwear attachment may extend the entire length of the foot of the individual. Alternatively, the surface 103 of the footwear attachment may not extend the entire length of the foot of the individual.
Further, a method for using the footwear attachment involves an individual placing a foot covered by footwear onto the surface 103 on the top of the footwear attachment with sufficient force for the footwear attachment to fasten or adhere to the footwear.
The above detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Accordingly, the above detailed description does not limit the invention.
